Chennai, Aug 10: Reinforcing its commitment to building a socially responsive, globally relevant, and practice-oriented legal education ecosystem, the School of Law, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, has signed six strategic Memoranda of Understanding with national organisations working at the intersection of legal education, justice delivery, public service, research, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
The agreements were signed by Prof. Dr. Y. S. R. Murthy, Pro Vice-Chancellor, School of Law, SRMIST, during the International Conference on Global Criminology and Victimology marking a significant step in strengthening the University’s national academic and professional network.
The collaborations are designed to create meaningful opportunities for students and faculty members through experiential learning, interdisciplinary research, legal aid initiatives, internships, faculty development programmes, policy engagement, professional training, and industry collaboration.
Among the most significant partnerships is the MoU with Safai Karamchari Andolan, the national movement founded by Mr. Bezwada Wilson, Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient and one of India’s foremost human rights advocates. The collaboration will promote academic engagement on issues relating to constitutional rights, social justice, human dignity, and public policy, enabling students to engage directly with grassroots legal and human rights initiatives.
The School has also entered into strategic collaborations with three nationally recognised organisations led by Dr. Kalpesh Kumar Gupta—Pro Bono India, Law Teachers India, and Legal Startup India – each contributing distinct strength to the legal education ecosystem.
Through Pro Bono India, India’s pioneering platform dedicated to legal aid and legal awareness, students will gain exposure to community legal services, legal literacy programmes, research initiatives, internships, certificate courses, socio-legal projects, and collaborative outreach activities that strengthen access to justice.
The partnership with Law Teachers India will enhance academic excellence by facilitating faculty development programmes, legal pedagogy initiatives, research collaborations, scholarly publications, capacity-building workshops, and nationwide academic networking among legal educators.
The collaboration with Legal Startup India will introduce students to the growing intersection of law, entrepreneurship, compliance, and business advisory services, offering valuable industry exposure in areas such as startup advisory, intellectual property, taxation, regulatory compliance, legal documentation, and corporate services.
Further strengthening its engagement with emerging areas of justice education, the School has signed an MoU with ThinkJustice Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research and evidence-based justice reforms. The partnership will foster collaboration across criminology, victimology, criminal justice, forensic sciences, psychology, social work, and allied disciplines through research projects, professional development programmes, policy dialogue, and academic exchange.
SRM School of Law also signed a MoU with Women Entrepreneurs India to expose female law students to entrepreneurship and related skills.
Collectively, these partnerships will significantly enhance experiential learning opportunities, expand professional networks, encourage interdisciplinary scholarship, and equip students with the practical skills required to navigate an increasingly dynamic legal landscape.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Y. S. R. Murthy, Pro Vice-Chancellor, School of Law, SRMIST, said:
“Legal education today must extend far beyond the classroom. These collaborations reflect our commitment to creating an ecosystem where academic excellence is complemented by professional exposure, social responsibility, research, innovation, and meaningful engagement with institutions shaping the future of law and justice. Through these partnerships, our students and faculty will gain opportunities to contribute to society while developing the competencies required of future legal professionals.”
The signing of these five strategic MoUs underscores SRM School of Law’s vision of creating a future-ready legal education ecosystem rooted in academic excellence, social responsibility, interdisciplinary research, and institutional collaboration. By partnering with organisations that influence legal practice, justice delivery, policy, and community engagement, the School continues to position itself as a leading centre for innovative legal education in India.